Super Tulip Tour

The ultimate Dutch tulip bike tour!

Tulips by bike and boat! This Super Tulip Tour is totally dedicated to the beautiful tulip. You will bike Holland through acres of spring flowers and tulips, learn all about growing tulips in a tulip park and of course you will visit the Keukenhof, the garden of the world.

Travel

Fly to Amsterdam International Airport.

Local Travel

Short train ride from Amsterdam airport to Amsterdam central. Trains are accessed in lower level of airport.

Climate

Please check local conditions prior to arrival. Holland is near or below sea level and experiences a Maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean with relatively mild winters and summers that are not too hot. Holland has the perfect climate and soil for the Tulips. Average high/low temp in °F for Amsterdam in April is 53°/41º and May 61°/46º.

Recommended

Remarks

Please note: tulip season in Holland extends from the end of March to the middle of May but is dependent on temperatures and the weather.

Travel documents:

Before you travel, please check your country's passport and visa requirements and the passport and visa requirements of the country/countries you plan to visit. For US citizens, the US Department of State website is a good source of information. The Country Information tab in the International Travel section provides details about passport validity, blank passport pages required, etc. For our other international clients, please be sure that you research your own country's travel requirements. It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure proper documentation.

*Important note: Beginning July 1, 2021, additional documentation from the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.

Tour Dates

On the Comfort plus class boats:Liza Marleen:High season: April 13 and April 20, 2019On the Comfort class boat:Zwaan:Low season: March 30, April 6, and May 4, 2019High season: April 27, 2019On the Standard plus class boats:Anna AntalStandard Season: April 6 and May 4, 2019High season: April 13, April 20, and April 27, 2019Feniks:April 6, and April 20, 2019

Zwaan:Standard season: March 28, April 4, and May 2, 2020 High season: April 11, April 18 and April 25, 2020Anna AntalStandard Season: April 4 and May 2, 2020High season: April 11, April 18, and April 25, 2020

Where You’ll Stay

Aboard comfort plus, comfort, or standard class vessels.

What’s Included

7 nights accommodation on board

Breakfasts, packed lunches, and 3-course dinners

Coffee and tea on board

Tour guide

Minimum 3 city walks with tour guide

Route information

Road book (1 per cabin)

Entrance fee for the Keukenhof and flower auction

Ferry fares on the route

Free WiFi available (up to 100 MB) in lounge and on deck. (Surcharge for more MB)

*All distances are approximate. The above-planned itinerary is subject to change, even at very short notice, due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam. Embarkation between 1 and 2 PM near Central Station. Cruising to Spaarndam and cycling to Haarlem, 9 miles (15 km)After arrival on board the barge, you can put your luggage away in your cabin and then enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. It is also a good moment to become acquainted with the guide, skipper and crew, and of course your fellow passengers. You are asked to be on board no later than 2 pm. At 2:15 pm the barge sets off for Spaarndam, also known as the village of Hansje Brinker. From here, take an easy ride into the city of Haarlem. This city, which rendered its name to Harlem, New York, is a lively city with good shopping possibilities. At the same time, there are many interesting 17th-century sights here. Back on board, after the bike ride, the program for the next day and the rest of the week will be explained to you at dinner time.

Day 2:Harlem - Keukenhof - Leiden, 25 miles (40 km)Today's route leads you through the oldest tulip fields of Holland, including a visit of the Keukenhof gardens, the most beautiful spring park in the world. The Keukenhof is an overwhelming blaze of colors, seven million flowering tulips in a magnificent 80-acres' background of traditional and modern gardening architecture. (Tickets are included in the tour price.) You also can admire the various hyacinths and many other colorful flowers. You spend the night in Leiden, which is a historic city with many little courtyards, façades, and historical buildings built between the 15th and 18th century. Leiden, meaning ‘built on waters’, came into existence around 800 AD as a market place at the confluence of the rivers Old and New Rhine, the Vliet and the Mare. It was a center for the medieval linen industry. For a long time, it was second only to Amsterdam in importance. Leiden is also the city where Rembrandt van Rijn was born.

Day 3:Leiden - Kudelstaart, 28 miles (45 km)Today you bike from Leiden to Kudelstaart, a small town bordered by the Westeinderplassen, around the Haarlemmermeer. You will go right through the green heart of Holland, an area with small cycle paths, lakes, small rivers, and cows.

Day 4:Visit to flower auction. Cruising to Amsterdam. Cycling to Zaanse Schans - Wormerveer, 28 miles (45 km)In the early morning, you can visit one of the many flower auctions in Aalsmeer. Everyday ‘Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer’ sets the world price for flowers and plants. This happens by bringing supply and demand together by means of the auction clock- a fascinating process during which large and small batches of flowers are sold within fractions of seconds. As a visitor to Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, you will walk over a specially designed gallery, enjoy the gorgeous flowers, and experience the hustle and bustle of the auction. The flowers and plants that are sold at the auctions are exported all over the world, a wonder of logistics. Later you will have breakfast while sailing in the direction of Amsterdam.

Between the Schiphol and the city, you disembark to continue your tour by bike along the river Amstel and right into the city. A ferry will transport you to the other side of the river ‘IJ’. Here you leave the city behind and continue your tour through lush green polders towards the world famous hamlet of Zaanse Schans. A unique place where people live and work, with original houses and windmills from the river Zaan area.

Day 5: Wormerveer - Alkmaar, 28 miles (45 km)From Wormerveer you will cycle to and through the most beautiful dunes of the Netherlands and if weather permits, you may like to swim in the North Sea during your lunch break at the beach. Today's overnight stay is in cheese town Alkmaar, a historic, lively city with many quaint shops. A little less than 400 heritage sites, canals, and harbor dominate the townscape.

Day 6:Alkmaar - Purmerend, 22 miles (35 km)Today you'll cycle into the polder landscape of the Beemster and Purmer, part of a big green polder area. The Beemster Polder, dating from the early 17th century, is an exceptional example of reclaimed land in the Netherlands. Its well-ordered landscape of fields, roads, canals, dikes, and settlements are all laid out in accordance with classical and Renaissance planning principles. Also on the agenda is a visit to one of the big water mills at the Rijp. Graft and De Rijp are two proud, typical 17th-century villages that enjoyed great prosperity at the height of the fishing and whaling industries. You spend the night in Purmerend.

Day 7:Purmerend - Amsterdam, 22 miles (35 km)Purmerend lies at the edge of an area called ‘Waterland’ where roads and water are nearly on the same level. Visit the nice village of Zunderdorp and Ransdorp. Those that wish to lengthen today's route can cycle the long route to Edam and Volendam and if time permits, you can cross the lake Gouwzee to admire the traditional fisherman’s village, Marken, with its typical wooden houses.

Excellent tour guide (Albert) after the first two days out I relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed the biking, all the explanations of what we were seeing along the route. The caption and partner were great hosts. Every evening a fantastic meal. After our evening meal Albert always offered to take us on a walking tour, on his own time, which we all did. I would certainly recommend trip site to anyone.

My husband and I enjoyed a fantastic Super Tulip Tour in mid April of 2012. The staff of the very comfortable Zwaan were all professional, yet entertaining and informative. We learned a lot about Holland that week, and saw its beautiful countryside at a leisurely pace on the excellent bicycles provided. I would definitely recommend this trip and company to anyone considering a bike and barge tour.

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Super Tulip Tour Boats + Barges

Anna AntalNetherlandsStandard Class BoatThe Anna Antal is a former shuttle barge converted into a motor passenger ship in the winter of 1994-95. In 2013, the salon and cabins were renovated. The sailing area of the Anna Antal includes all Dutch, German and Belgian waterways in so far as a ship of this size can sail. She also sails on the Waddenzee, IJsselmeer and Zeeland. The Anna Antal is built according to the rules of Maritime laws and holds a valid certificate for the Rhine.

FeniksBelgium, Netherlands, FranceStandard Class BoatOriginally, the Feniks was built in 1928 as a freighter on the Dutch, Belgium and French inland waters. In 1992, the Feniks was converted to a hotel passenger ship and put in service for various sailing holidays. Since then, she has undergone several renovations to keep up-to-date with all modern facilities.

Liza MarleenPremium Class BoatThe Liza Marleen is a luxury motor passenger barge that was completely refurbished in 1998. This robust barge is ideally suited for trips on the wider waterways. It has a beautiful salon area and spacious deck.

ZwaanBelgium, NetherlandsStandard Class BoatOnce a cargo boat, the Zwaan (Swan) was completely renovated and converted into a comfortable passenger barge. On board you will find seven comfortable cabins allowing a total capacity of 16 passengers.

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